Title: The Wild Outside

Written by: Rachel Ip

Illustrated by: Katie Hickey

Published by: Hodder Children’s Books / Hachette

Blurb

Tulip loves being outside. She loves puddles and pinecones, flowers and feathers, and her pockets are full of nature’s treasure. But Tulip is desperate to know more about the things she sees and finds on her daily walk …

“What is this fruit… this plant… this seed?”
“What is this tree… this leaf… this reed?”

So, when Tulip finds a nature trail drawn in chalk on the street outside her house, she is delighted to discover the names and uses of all her favourite trees, plants, and flowers. Then one day, she comes home to find a carefully wrapped present waiting on her doorstep … A book of nature from around the world.

Every day, Tulip learns more and more about nature, but who is creating the nature trail?

With names and facts given for every tree, plant and flower Tulip discovers, this beautifully illustrated book encourages children to stop, notice, name and celebrate the nature that can be found in their surroundings – and beyond. Because just outside your own front door, there is a whole world of nature to explore.

Review

The Wild Outside is the ideal educational picture book to encourage young children to explore nature and being outside away from TV and their games consoles. It will encourage children to foster a love of the great outdoors and their local environment even when it is raining.

This book displays how their curiosity can spark a wider interest in the plants and fauna found not only in their own gardens but worldwide, from the forest mangroves of Asia, the rainforests and grasslands of Africa, to the cold deserts of Antarctica.

There are some fun activities at the end of the book to inspire young children further. Who knows maybe they will even create their own nature trails, as well as helping them to extend their joy of books.

You can find some video clips and printable resources on Rachel’s website here: https://www.rachelip.com/thewildoutside.

You can buy copies of The Wild Outside by Rachel Ip and Katie Hickey from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.